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Andy Cohen on why he’s over ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ labels

The host of the Virgin Holidays Attitude Awards 2018, powered by Jaguar opens up in our new October issue.

By Will Stroude

Andy Cohen is renowned for getting – and giving – some very personal confessions on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, but the US talk show host says questions about whether someone is a ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ are “out of date” in 2018.

The TV star and producer, 50, was memorably described as a ‘top’ by friend and CNN host Anderson Cooper a few years back, but says he believes that sex and intimacy shouldn’t be put into sich rigid boxes.

Reminded of Cooper’s headline-grabbing comments in the October issue of Attitude – available to download and order globally now,” Andy says: “I’ve been thinking about the whole bottom/top thing. There’s a lot of bottom-shaming going on.

“It’s a question that I’ve been asked and I’ve answered over the years and I feel the question has become out of date, and the reason why is because what defines sex anyway?”

Andy Cohen, shot by Leigh Keily exclusively for the October issue of Attitude

The Real Housewives executive producer goes on: “My definition of sex was always just being intimate, and if you wanna get really specific, having an orgasm with another person whatever way that is achieved.

“For me, it’s just the sexual intimacy — that is the part that defines sex and it can be achieved in many different ways.

Photography: Leigh Keily

“So, the connotation about being a top or a bottom, I think for the person/the spectator who from the outside, or who can just be looking to make a generalisation, it insinuates ‘Who’s the man and who’s the woman?’ which obviously is outdated.”

Andy, who is set to host the Virgin Holidays Attitude Awards 2018, powered by Jaguar at Camden’s Roundhouse next month (11 October), adds: “The truth about today is that everybody’s topped and everybody’s bottomed at one point in life; it’s more of an open playing field.

“People have a lot of variations about sex and it’s safe to say I am well on board the train and enjoying the ride.”

See Andy’s full shoot and interview the October issue of Attitude, out now with two other special covers featuring Cher and Rami Malek.

Buy now and take advantage of our best-ever subscription offers: 3 issues for £3 in print, 13 issues for £19.99 to download to any device.